UPDATED: Seahawks’ 53-man roster, with comments on each position

Comment: The Seahawks haven’t kept three quarterbacks for the whole season in either of the past two seasons, and Terrelle Pryor didn’t convince them that they should do so this season, either. Second-year player B.J. Daniels is a practice squad candidate if he clears waivers.

Running backs/Fullback (4):

Marshawn Lynch

Christine Michael

Robert Turbin

Derrick Coleman

Comment: The only surprise of the group is that the Seahawks opted not to keep running back Spencer Ware. Ware, a sixth-round pick in 2013, was a solid special-teams contributor, but the Seahawks decided they’d be better off with three running backs and using his roster space somewhere else, like wide receiver.

Wide receivers (7):

Percy Harvin

Doug Baldwin

Jermaine Kearse

Paul Richardson

Ricardo Lockette

Kevin Norwood

Phil Bates

Comment: It was long assumed that the Seahawks would keep six receivers, but not many people had the Seahawks keeping seven. It’s a nod to the depth of the group and to the preseason Phil Bates had. Harvin, Baldwin, Kearse and Richardson were all locks, with fourth-round pick Kevin Norwood a near-lock. Many thought the final spot on the roster came down to Lockette, a burner on special teams, Bates and Bryan Walters, a sure-handed receiver and return man. That the Seahawks kept Bates over Walters is a reflection of how Bates played, and it also signals that the punt-return job is likely Earl Thomas’.

Tight ends (3):

Zach Miller

Luke Willson

Cooper Helfet

Comment: There was some thought that the Seahawks could opt to keep just two tight ends with Miller and Willson. But Helfet, who spent last season on the practice squad, had a nice preseason before injuring his shoulder and knee against the Bears. He’s another weapon for Russell Wilson and is more of a pass-catching tight end than a grinding blocker.

Offensive line (9):

Russell Okung

James Carpenter

Max Unger

J.R. Sweezy

Justin Britt

Alvin Bailey

Lemuel Jeanpierre

Stephen Schilling

Garry Gilliam

Comment: The starting five was set, with the Seahawks feeling comfortable enough with rookie Justin Britt to give him the starting right tackle job. But the final few spots for offensive linemen were up for grabs. The Seahawks cut veteran tackle Eric Winston in favor of the more inexperienced Garry Gilliam, who is raw but has a big upside. And they went with Bellevue High grad Stephen Schilling, who can play center and guard, in favor of the younger Caylin Hauptmann, who spent most of last year on the roster.

Defensive line (9):

Michael Bennett

Cliff Avril

Cassius Marsh

O’Brien Schofield

Brandon Mebane

Kevin Williams

Tony McDaniel

Greg Scruggs

Jordan Hill

Comment: The Seahawks parted ways with defensive end Benson Mayowa, who showed so much promise a year ago as the darling of the preseason. Mayowa, an undrafted free agent from Idaho, spent all of last season on the active roster, despite rarely playing. He was a developmental player, and he added needed weight this offseason. But he just never took that next step as a player. The Seahawks also played defensive tackle D’Anthony Smith on injured reserve. He had a good preseason but has struggled to stay healthy in his career.

Linebackers (7):

Bobby Wagner

K.J. Wright

Bruce Irvin

Malcolm Smith

Kevin Pierre-Louis

Mike Morgan

Brock Coyle

Comment: By keeping Bruce Irvin on the active roster, the Seahawks signaled that he should be able to return soon (If not for the first game against the Packers, the not long after, much like Cliff Avril did last season). Coyle’s spot became secure after veteran special-teams captain Heath Farwell was lost for the season with an injury.

Cornerbacks (5):

Richard Sherman

Byron Maxwell

Jeremy Lane

Tharold Simon

Marcus Burley

Comment: The big surprise is the addition of Burley, who the Seahawks added on Saturday afternoon in a trade with the Colts. The Seahawks sent a 2015 sixth-round pick to the Colts for Burley. Burley was an undrafted free agent and spent the 2013 season with the Jaguars. He had an impressive preseason with the Colts, but they didn’t have room for him on their roster. He gives the Seahawks another smaller, nimbler cornerback behind Lane to play in the slot.

Safeties (4):

Earl Thomas

Kam Chancellor

Jeron Johnson

DeShawn Shead

Comment: No surprises in this group. Thomas and Chancellor are entrenched; Johnson has been a serviceable backup when healthy; and Shead’s a versatile player who can play corner or safety and who is also good on special teams.

Specialists (3):

Jon Ryan

Steven Hauschka

Clint Gresham

Comment: It’s hard to have any surprises when these three guys were the only guys at their position throughout training camp and the preseason.

And here’s a look at the cuts the Seahawks made to get to the 53-man roster: